“We are very excited about this new facility, which will support development of a new generation of products,” said Chris LauretGE Aviation’s Rockford site leader. “AdEPT allows us to perform extremely complicated physical tests that are critical to delivering the reliability and operability our customers require.”

“Before AdEPT, we had to rely on computer simulations,” said Bryan Schwichtenberg, who led the 30-month project to develop the new lab. “Now we are able to test large, complex systems in a variety of conditions to optimize our designs and performance.”

GE Aviation’s Rockford facility employs 220 people, including nearly 100 hourly production workers, a commercial team, and an engineering staff of more than 40 people. The facility manufactures and repairs components for GE’s commercial & military jet engines, as well as powerplants for helicopters, naval vessels, and tanks.

About Author

Ben has worked all of his career as a journalist and now editor, covering almost all aspects of technology, engineering and industry. In the last 16 years he has written on subjects from nuclear submarines and autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies and commercial aviation. Latterly editor of a leading engineering magazine, he brings an eye for a great story and lots of experience to the team.